Shai traditional leaders petition government for return of Chipa Tributaries Forest Reserve

The Paramount Chief and Divisional Chiefs of the Shai Traditional Area in the Greater Accra Region have formally petitioned the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, calling for the return of the Chipa Tributaries Forest Reserve, which they say was compulsorily acquired by the state in 1966 without compensation.

In a petition dated June 24, 2026, the traditional leaders, led by Paramount Chief Odeopeor Martey Kodjoe Ahwah IV, argued that the reserve, covering approximately 9,321 square miles within the Shai Osudoku District, was acquired under the Forests Ordinance (Cap 157) but compensation due to the affected landowning clans was never paid.

The petition was jointly signed by chiefs representing the Lekpeje, Hiome and Hiowe divisions of the Shai State, including Nene Padi Narh-Wayo I of Kordiabe, Nene Nagai Kassa VIII of Agomeda, and Nokotoma Samuel Yaw Opata of Doryumu.

According to the chiefs, a judgment delivered by the then Commissioner of the Reserve Settlement Commission, A.H. Sackeyfio, on July 22, 1966, acknowledged communal rights such as hunting, fishing, collection of sand and stones, and gathering of firewood for domestic use within the reserve. However, they contend that these rights have been severely restricted over the years, depriving local communities of essential resources and opportunities for development.

The petitioners stated that before the acquisition, the affected communities relied heavily on the land for farming and other livelihood activities. They noted that rapid population growth and limited access to land have since created significant socio-economic challenges, including constraints on housing, agriculture and infrastructure development.

The chiefs further argued that the reserve has not been effectively utilized for the purpose for which it was acquired. They claimed that large portions of the land remain unused and have become vulnerable to encroachment by non-indigenes, while the original landowners continue to face restrictions in accessing the area.

A major concern raised in the petition is the alleged interference by a private individual identified as Djato of Aynok Holdings Limited. The chiefs accused him of preventing community members from entering parts of the reserve to exercise their recognized communal rights, including the collection of sand and stones for local development projects.

They have appealed to the Lands Minister to direct the individual to allow reasonable access to the reserve pending any final decision on the land's status.

The traditional leaders also anchored their request on what they described as a campaign pledge made by President John Dramani Mahama during the 2024 general election campaign to return state-acquired lands that are no longer being effectively utilized to their original owners. They argued that the promise resonated strongly with residents of the Shai State and contributed significantly to electoral support for the governing party in the area.

Beyond the demand for the return of the forest reserve, the chiefs called on the government to provide adequate compensation for the compulsory acquisition, insisting that no compensation has been paid since the land was taken over six decades ago.

They maintained that financial compensation would help address the long-standing socio-economic challenges faced by the growing population of the traditional area.

The petition also highlighted the contribution of the Shai State to national development through the production of construction materials such as sand and quarry stones. In view of this contribution, the chiefs appealed to government to reconstruct roads within the traditional area to improve transportation and support economic activities.

The petition has been copied to the Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission and the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission for their attention and consideration.

The Shai traditional leaders expressed hope that the government would act swiftly on their concerns and facilitate the return of the reserve to its allodial owners to promote livelihoods, economic growth and sustainable development within the affected communities.